1 ANNUAL REPORT 2012 / 2013
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ANNUALREPORT2012/2013
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
S. 4 PREFACE
S. 6 SOLVING THE E-WASTE PROBLEM (StEP) INITIATIVE: A MULTI-STAKEHOLDER APPROACH
S. 10 MEMBERSHIP
S. 14 ORGANIZATION a.SteeringCommittee b.GeneralAssembly c.Secretariat d.TaskForces e.RegionalFocalPoints
S. 20 TASK FORCE 1: POLICY a.GeneralTF1descriptionand2012/2013updates b.GreenPaper:TransboundaryMovementsofDiscardedElectricalandElectronicEquipment c.GreenPaper:E-wasteinChina:Acountryreport d.WhitePaper:E-wasteDefinitions e.WhitePaper:E-wastePrevention,Take-backSystemDesignandPolicyApproaches
S. 24 TASK FORCE 2: REDESIGN a.GeneralTF2descriptionand2012/2013updates b.DesignforRecycling:FeasibilityAssessmentandRecommendations c.ExternalprojectswithStEPmemberinvolvement i. Upgrade–ImprovedvalorizationandintegratedrecoveryoftracemetalsinWasteElectrical andElectronicEquipment(WEEE)
S. 28 TASK FORCE 3: REUSE a.GeneralTF3descriptionand2012/2013updates b.Sustainablee-wastemanagementsysteminEthiopia c.Re-EvaluateProject:AnUpdate d.Re-usePotentialProject:AnUpdate e.Re-useDatasetProject f. WhitePaper:TheEffectofWasteLegislationonTransboundaryMovementsEEEDestined forRe-use
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S.34 TaSkForce4:recYcLe a.GeneralTF4descriptionand2012/2013updates b.MIT/NCERe-wasteMonitoringMethodology c.CalculationToolfore-wasteDismantlingFacilities:AnUpdate d.GreenPaper:StandardsforCollection,Storage,TransportandTreatmentofe-waste e.CRTRecyclinginDevelopingCountries f. PhDThesisonMaterialFlows g.ExternalprojectswithStEPmemberinvolvement i. SustainableRecyclingIndustries(SRI)Project
S.40 TaSkForce5:capaciTYBuiLding a.GeneralTF5descriptionand2012/2013updates b.StEPADDRESS:QuantificationActivities i. WAITProject:WEEEArisinginItaly ii. Recupel:WEEEArisinginBelgium c.StEPE-wasteAcademy(EWA) i. E-wasteAcademy–Scientistsedition(EWAS) ii. E-wasteAcademy–Managersedition(EWAM) d.ExternalprojectswithStEPmemberinvolvement i. WAITProject:WEEEArisinginItaly ii. Recupel:WEEEArisinginBelgium
S.48 SteporganizedandSupporTedevenTS
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PREFACE
Ever since the first widely accepted definition of ‘sustainable development’ was published in the Brundtland Report following the World Com mission on Environment and Development in 1987, the world has been taking strides in shifting global consumption and production patterns to more sustainable levels. In order to enable a paradigm shift toward sustainability, interdisciplinary ap proaches and strategies have to be developed addressing societal, environmental and economic elements in an integrated, holistic manner.
Using this as a guiding framework, the Solving the Ewaste Problem (StEP) Initiative continued to make significant impacts in the sustainable management of ewaste in 2012. In order to tackle the ewaste problem from a scientific, multistake holder perspective, one must be able to know the size of the challenge – how much ewaste is out there and how fast is this waste stream growing? Contributing to the overarching StEP ADDRESS strategy, for the first time comprehensive, verifiable data on ewaste volumes has been generated and made available by individual StEP members. Such invaluable information on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) put on the market and consumer behaviour patterns will be readily accessible in a dynamic StEP World Map set to go live in 2013. Then, the scientific community, policymakers and other ewaste stakeholders will have access to comprehensive, complete ewaste country scenarios as well as the country studies and further information on legislation and societal aspects.
Simultaneously, StEP continued in 2012/2013 to address design aspects, with special attention to design for disassembly, design for reuse and design for end of life. With smart product design, products can be more easily disassembled and materials liberated at preprocessing phases of the value chain. Moreover, strategies such as dematerialization and substitution could enable product functionality with less materials and in many cases, longer life spans and more energyefficient products. As ewaste legislation already exists in many developed countries, StEP has continued to support the developing world in developing sound and effective legislation.
StEP has again addressed multiple aspects of the pre and endprocessing stages of the life cycle, with particular attention to the developing world. Through a synthesis of existing end of life management standards, StEP published a contentrich, holistic analysis of the various standards and recommendations on strengths and bottlenecks in 2012. Now it is working to convert this study into a White Paper providing a practical and easily referenced checklist for policymakers. Ad ditionally, StEP agreed at the 2012 General Assembly to tackle the ongoing CRT recycling dilemma in developing countries by synthesizing existing literature, conducting analysis on CRT amounts and developing subsequent management options in developing countries. In order to effectively disseminate results and enable an ongoing knowledge transfer to various ewaste target groups, StEP added three more
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publications to its White and Green Paper series in 2012 as well as organized the first ever EWaste Academy – Managers edition (EWAM) for policymakers and small and medium sized enterprises taking a geographical focus on Africa. Building off of the success and momentum of this pioneering capacity building event, StEP will organize a 2nd EWAM in El Salvador in Spring 2014. Addressing knowledge transfer and training of the research community, StEP rebranded its highly successful Ewaste Summer School for PhD and postdoctoral researchers to the EWaste Academy – Scientists edition (EWAS). The funding for a 4th edition to take place in Switzerland in Winter 2013 has already been secured. It is clear that throughout 2012/2013 StEP has continued to prioritize the knowledge building of a broad range of ewaste stakeholders in order to truly contribute to sustainable ewaste management.
We hope that this 2012/2013 summary of StEP projects and activities will provide you with a better understanding of StEP’s global position as the leading steward of change and demonstrate StEP’s unique, multistakeholder approach toward sustainability along the entire ewaste life cycle.
Stephanie Adrian, Chair StEP Steering CommitteeRuediger Kuehr, Executive Secretary StEP Initiative
Washington D.C./Bonn, October 2013
Stephanie Adrian, Chair StEP Steering Committee
Ruediger Kuehr, Executive Secretary StEP Initiative
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Electronics have revolutionized and enhanced the way our world functions. Electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) has enabled quick and efficient communication, fostered the ubiquitous diffusion of knowledge to bridge the digital divide, contributed to advancements in public health as well as added elements of comfort in our everyday lives. At the same time, electronics require large amounts of materials and energy at all stages of the life cycle; from the primary production of raw materials, to manufacturing, ultimately to their use and reuse phases and subsequent disposal at end of life (EoL). The result: increasing digitization, more complex products and a fast growing waste stream with various adverse environmental and workers’ health impacts if not addressed and handled appropriately.
There are both challenges and opportunities in the management of ewaste. From a resources perspective, EEE contain a wide array of materials ranging from precious metals (e.g. platinum, gold, silver), rare earth and critical metals (e.g. neodymium, indium, tantalum) but also commodities (e.g. steel, plastics) and hazardous substances (e.g. lead, cadmium, CFCs). Inherently, these materials do not pose a threat; it is when they are improperly handled along the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) value chain that adverse impacts arise.
Such impacts range from environmental and ecological degradation caused by improper EoL management to human health hazards associated with crude ‘backyard’ recycling practices but also economic implications such as loss or dissipation of resources due to low collection rates and impro
per recycling. When the entire ewaste sys tem is taken into consideration, holistic and effective solutions can be developed to reduce detrimental impacts and exploit ewaste opportunities.
Because of this there was a profound need for robust analysis and a global dialogue from a neutral, sciencebased standpoint in order to engage all relevant stakeholders and develop sustainable solutions at all stages of the WEEE life cycle. This ultimately led to the establishment of the StEP Initiative in late 2004 which has grown to a 65member initiative today, with members coming from industry, international organizations, governments, NGOs, research, academia etc.
Since its official launch in 2007, StEP has steered and supported the international ewaste discourse through its members and activities. By acting as a steward of change, StEP offers a neutral, interdisciplinary platform to its members in order to foster concrete and solutionsoriented discussion and develop and carry out research, demonstration and dissemination projects and activities. Some noteworthy milestones include the development of the StEP White and Green Paper series, the establishment of the Best of 2 Worlds (Bo2W) philosophy combining manual dismantling in developing countries with stateoftheart recycling in industrialized countries, the highly successful Ewaste Academies and organization as well as support of international ewaste events and conferences. StEP’s success results out of the proactive engagement and invaluable contributions from its members towards the sustainable management of ewaste along the entire life cycle.
SOLVING THE E-WASTE PROBLEM (StEP) INITIATIVE:
A MULTI-STAKEHOLDER APPROACH
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StEP’S CONCRETE OBJECTIVES CAN BE POSITIONED UNDER FOUR PILLARS DETAILED BELOW:
1. E-WASTE RESEARCH & PILOTING:
• Conduct and publish scientific research to inform knowledge and policymaking• Steward and promote positive change in the use of natural resources• Research the design of systems, processes and management practice• Support the piloting of problemsolving ideas through to implementation• Monitor and analyze producttorecycler supply chain effectiveness
2. STRATEGY & GOAL SETTING:
• Develop durable strategies and recommendations that can be modified to fit local boundary conditions
• Describe, define and document best ewaste practices worldwide• Leverage member expertise to define optimization potential and goals by industry sector
3. TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT:
• Develop StEP training activities for multisector ewaste players• Define the standards and design the syllabus for training• Organize capacitybuilding and employee training modules• Further develop the interdisciplinary StEP Ewaste Academy
4. COMMUNICATION & BRANDING:
• Design and write publications to broaden audience understanding and deepen their understanding
• Raise awareness about issues and opportunities in ewaste prevention, processing and disposal
• Engage with National Governments and the international community on legislation development
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MEMBERSHIP
StEP membership is generally open to all organizations that commit to proactively participate in StEP activities. StEP membership offers unique opportunities including but not exclusively:
• Expert stakeholder collaboration with individual StEP members and StEP’s extended network
• Access to new markets through global networking
• Cooperation in a truly sciencebased, multistakeholder platform
• Privileged access to the most current ewaste updates on global policy developments, advancements in technology, scientific data
• Unique influence on a systemsoriented research agenda
• Shaping future global ewaste strategies and integrated approaches toward ewaste system design
In order to join StEP, a potential member must apply through the StEP Secretariat and is required to sign the StEP Memorandum of Understanding, which lays down the key principles and objectives of the StEP Initiative while also completing an application form. These prospective StEP members will need to elaborate on their expectations from a StEP membership and how they will contribute to the overall StEP mission. All membership applications are reviewed by the StEP Steering Committee and then voted upon by all StEP members in the regular General Assemblies.
From a financial perspective, StEP relies solely on member contributions and successful project acquisitions. The members’ annual monetary
contribution is based on the type of organization and their size.
For small companies, research institutes, associations or NGOs, in particular from newly industrializing and developing countries, an associate membership is available with a reduced annual contribution of at least EUR 500 per year (associations of commercials are expected to make an annual contribution similar to large OEMs as stated above). This is especially for members who are contributing to a specific project only or don’t have the financial capacity to be a full member. Associate members have access to StEP information and scientific databases and contribute to project work, though they are not permitted to vote at StEP’s decision making bodies including the General Assemblies.
In exceptional cases where a StEP member is not in the position to make the annual monetary contribution, the case will be reviewed by the StEP Steering Committee which may ultimately decide to waive the annual contribution for that year. However, because of StEP’s unique funding scenario, waivers must be justified and are not intended to be a permanent solution. In the case that a waiver is granted, the respective member must contribute to the overall progress of the StEP Initiative through inkind contributions; this can be via content related contributions to a project or any other service.
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TYPE OF ORGANIZATION AMOUNT
Largesize companies EUR 12,000
Mediumsize companies EUR 6,000
Smallsize companies (including microenterprises) EUR 1,200
All other members EUR 1,200
1. StEP´s work is founded on scientific assessments and incorportates a comprehensive view of the social, environmental and economic aspects of ewaste.
2. StEP conducts reserach on the entire life of cycle of electrical and electronic equipment and their corresponding global supply, process and material flows.
3. StEP´s reserach and pilotprojects are meant to contribute to the solutions of ewaste problems.
4. StEP condemns all illegal activities related to ewaste including illegal shipments and reuse / recycling practices that are harmful to the environment and human health.
5. StEP seeks to foster safe and eco and energyefficient reuse and recycling practices around the globe in a socially responsible manner.
PRINCIPLES:
ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS:
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MEMBERS
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StEP MEMBERS (asofJuly2013)
FULL MEMBERS:
(29) Austrian Society for Systems Engineering and Automation (SAT) (47) Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for Asia & the Pacific (BCRC China) (45) Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the African Region (BCCCAfrica), University of Ibadan (21) BIO Intelligence Service S.A.S. (46) Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE), Egypt (49) ChihoTiande (HK) Limited (5) Cisco Systems, Inc. (16) Compliance and Risks (20) Dataserv Group Holdings Ltd. (18) Datec Technologies Ltd. (33) Delft University of Technology (7) Dell (37) Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (42) Ericsson (59) FecaclubUNESCO (32) Flection (41) Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration (FHGIZM) (14) GAIKER Foundation (54) Griffith University (4) HewlettPackard (HP) (36) Institute for Applied Ecology (ÖkoInstitut) (56) International Telecommunication Union (ITU) (57) KERP research (9) Kevoy Community Development Institute (KCDI) (12) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – Materials Systems Laboratory
MEMBERS
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(13) Memorial University (17) MicroPro Computers (44) Morocco Cleaner Production Centre (CMPP) (10) National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER) (43) Nokia (34) Philips Consumer Lifestyle Sustainability Center (39) PT Plus KG (55) Renewable Recyclers (3) Reverse Logistics Group Americas (RLGA) (25) Secretariat of the Basel Convention (SBC) (35) Sims Recycling Solutions (1) Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) (28) Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA) (27) Swiss State Secretariat of Economic Affairs (SECO) (6) The Sustainability Consortium (53) Thai Electrical and Electronics Institute (40) Technische Universität Braunschweig, Institute of Machine Tools and Production Technology (22) Télécom École de Management (30) Umicore Precious Metal Refining (26) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) (24) United Nations Environment Programme / Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (UNEP/DTIE) (52) United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) (51) United Nations University (UNU) (11) United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (15) University of Limerick (19) University of Northampton (UoN), The Centre for Sustainable Wastes Management
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NEW MEMBERS IN 2013:
(58) Basel Convention Regional Centre for Central America and Mexico (BCRCCAM) (14) Ministry of the Environment Japan, Office Waste Disposal Management, Department of Waste Management and Recycling (60) Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Technischen Umweltschutz, Fachgebiet Abfallwirtschaft (Chair of Solid Waste Management) (62) Plataforma de Residuos Eléctricos y Electrónicos para Latinoamérica y el Caribe (RELAC Platform) (48) Dismantling and Recycling Centre Vienna (DRZ) (61) WEEE Help (44) WorldLoop
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS:
(23) ENDA Europe (31) Global eSustainability Initiative (GeSI) (50) Korean Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) (8) Vertmonde Cia. Ltd.
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members, each member elected by the General Assembly for a twoyear term and one exofficio member from United Nations University. The Steering Committee comprises the following stakeholder groups:
• Two manufacturers / assemblers / purchasers• One recycler / refurbisher• One UN organization / affiliated organization• One academia / research affiliated organization• One governmental organization/development
cooperation• One NGO / notforprofit organization• One ex officio member from United Nations
University
Each Steering Committee member will serve as the acting Chair with this role rotating among the Steering Committee members every six months (1 January and 1 July).
ORGANIZATION
Hosted by the United Nations University Institute for Sustainability and Peace, Operating Unit SCYCLE (UNUISP SCYCLE) since 2007, StEP Initiative is a multistakeholder network of actors under the UN umbrella. The chief institutional objective of UNUISP SCYCLE is to enable societies to reduce the environmental load of the production, use and disposal of especially but not exclusively, electrical and electronic equipment to sustainable levels through the development and promotion of independent, comprehensive and practical research as a sound basis for policy development and decision making. In this sense StEP projects and activities directly contribute to fulfilling a core research mandate of SCYCLE as such.
STEERING COMMITTEE
Within StEP there are various key organizational organs whereby their interdependencies ensure a streamlined, resultsoriented initiative. The Steering Committee is responsible for monitoring the overall progress and representing StEP members in various strategic decision making processes. The StEP Steering Committee comprises seven StEP
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Rolf Widmer, Swiss Federal
Laboratories for Materials Testing
and Research (EMPA)
Jean CoxKearns,
Dell
Per Doefnaes, Ericsson
Christina Meskers,
Umicore Precious Metals Refining
(Chair 1 July – 31 December 2012)
Ruediger Kuehr,
United Nations University,
ExOfficio
Smail Alhilali, United Nations Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO)
Stephanie Adrian, United States
Environmental Protection Agency
(USEPA) (Chair since 1 July 2013)
Hossam Allam, Centre for Environment
and Development for the Arab Region
and Europe (CEDARE)
STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR THE 2012 – 2014 TERM:
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StEP REGIONAL FOCAL POINTS
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The General Assembly is the collective decision making body of the StEP Initiative. The General Assembly takes place physically once per year and is kindly hosted by a StEP member. At each General Assembly, all StEP members vote on decision proposals and new StEP members, agree on seedfunding allocation in each Task Force, participate in brainstorming breakout sessions and workshops, and ultimately establish the research agenda and crucial priority areas for the year to come. Additionally, this is the platform where the Secretariat presents the financial and institutional summary from the previous year and
the forecast for the year to come. A virtual General Assembly is taking place midterm in order to provide updates to the plenum on interim activities and results, revisit pending issues, discuss prioritization areas and maintain momentum leading up to the next General Assembly. This also puts all members into the position to at least participate once per year in a General Assembly.
StEP SECRETARIAT
The StEP Secretariat functions as the internal and external operations hub of the StEP Initiative with
The primary purpose of the StEP Regional Focal Points is to serve as a link between the StEP Secretariat and StEP members, activities and issues in their corresponding regions.
1.NORTHAMERICA:Jeremy Gregory and Randy Kirchain, Materials Systems Laboratory (MSL) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA
2.MIDDLEEASTANDNORTHAFRICA:Hossam Allam, Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE), Egypt
3.SOUTHEASTASIA:Chirapat Popuang, Electrical and Electronics Institute (EEI), Thailand4.EASTASIA:Jinhui Li, Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for Asia and the Pacific
(BCRC China), and Tsinghua University, China5.SOUTHPACIFIC:Sunil Herat, Griffith University, Australia6.STEPSECRETARIAT:Ruediger Kuehr, UNU, Bonn, Germany
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StEP ORGANIGRAM
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StEP GENERAL ASSEMBLYMEMBERS/SIGNATORIES OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
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TASKFORCEPOLICY & LEGISLATION
TASK FORCE CAPACITY BUILDING
TASK FORCEREUSE
TASK FORCERECYCLE
TASK FORCEREDESIGN
STEERING COMMITTEE
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SECRETARIAT (UNU)REGIONAL
FOCAL POINTS
a physical location at the UN premises in Bonn, Germany. It coordinates and manages the flow of information and relevant developments among the StEP Task Forces and members. The Secretariat is also responsible for the executive management, administration and daily operational work of the Initiative and serves as the liaison between United Nations agencies and the individual StEP members. In addition it assists the Task Forces, particularly in stakeholder dialogues, development of publications, marketing, networking, liaising and fundraising.
The Secretariat is headed by the Executive Secretary, who serves as the chief academic project and administrative officer, responsible for the
overall management of StEP and its strategic progress towards overarching objectives.
STEP TASK FORCES
Because StEP takes a life cycle, systems ap proach toward the development of sound solutions to the global ewaste dilemma, StEP’s projects and activities are carried out and assessed in its five Task Forces. Each Task Force addresses one core component along the entire WEEE value chain whereby the seedfunded projects, pilot demonstrations, activities and targeted results of one task force substantially overlap and serve as
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THE StEP INITIATIVE
StEP PUBLICATIONSStEP EVENTS AND COOPERATIONS
2013 MoU with the Green GridStEP SideEvent at Basel COP
2011 MoU with GeSI3rd Ewaste Summer School (EWAS)StEP Open Meeting Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
2010 2nd Ewaste Summer School (EWAS)
2009 MoU with Secretariat of Basel Convention1st Ewaste Summer School (EWAS)1st Ewaste Management Forum, Cairo
2008 1st World Reuse Forum, organized by StEP’s TF3
2007 Launch of StEP at UN
2012 StEP comments Ghana draft Ewaste bill1st Ewaste Academy Managers Edition (EWAM)StEP Open Meeting Beijing
2013 STEP GREEN PAPERS
# 5 “Transboundary Movements” # 6 “Ewaste in China”# 7 “Ewaste in Ethiopia”
2012 STEP GREEN PAPERS
# 3 “Recommendations for Standards”# 4 “Impacts of Substance Restrictions”
2011 STEP GREEN PAPERS
# 1 “Ewaste Indicators” # 2 “Impacts of Substance Restrictions”
2009 STEP WHITE PAPERS
# 1 “Ewaste Takeback System Design”# 2 “Common Understanding of ReUse”# 3 “Revision of WEEE Directive”
Publication with UNEP “Recycling from Ewaste to Resources”
STEP MILESTONES 2007 – 2013
invaluable inputs to other Task Forces. Each Task Force is coordinated by two StEP members who are responsible for representing and maintaining the momentum of the respective Task Force, ensuring its projects and activities are in line with the agreedupon work plan established at the
General Assembly and are responsible for overall coordination of the Task Force and its members. As laid out in the Memorandum of Understanding, each StEP member actively contributes to at least one Task Force by implementing, managing or supporting Task Force projects.
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THE StEP INITIATIVE
2013/14 LAUNCH OF THE INTERACTIVE STEP EWASTE WORLDMAP
4th Ewaste Academy Scientists Edition (EWAS), Geneva (Switzerland)
2nd PANAfrican Ewaste Forum
1st Ewaste Training for Arabic States
2nd Ewaste Academy Managers Edition (EWAM), El Salvador
2013/14 STEP GREEN PAPERS
Ewaste Prevention, Takeback System Design and Policy Approaches
Differentiating EEE products and wastes
Design for Recycling: Feasibility Assessment and Recommendations
2013/14 STEP WHITE PAPERS
Ewaste Prevention, Takeback System Design and Policy Approaches
Standards for Collection, Storage, Transport and Treatment of Ewaste
Ewaste Definitions
Transboundary Movements of Ewaste
UPCOMING MILESTONES
“SincetheEGG2004+wheretheideaofdevelopingStEPwassharpenedbyadozenofstakeholdersithasbecomeaworld-widerecognizedinitiativeinvolvingactuallymorethan65fromaroundtheglobe.”
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POLICY
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TASKFORCE1: POLICY
GENERAL TF1 DESCRIPTION AND 2012/2013 UPDATES
A crosscutting Task Force that receives results from other Task Forces and in turn provides the analytical policy and legislative framework to the other four Task Forces, Task Force (TF) Policy aims to analyze national legislation and the international political framework for meeting the principles of sustainability, effective controlling and enforcement while also elaborating on effective policy instruments supporting ecodesign, reuse and viable recycling practices. At the practical level, Task Force Policy comments on existing policies and legislation, disseminates White and Green Papers on e.g. system design and sciencebased recommendations to the research community and ewaste practitioners.
At the 2012 General Assembly hosted by Philips in Amsterdam, Ruediger Kuehr of UNU stepped down as a Task Force Policy Cocoordinator after 5 years of service with Jonathan Perry of Dell being elected and subsequently approved by the StEP Steering Committee to join Cédric Gossart of Telecom Ecole de Management as Task Force Cocoordinator.
In 2012 Task Force Policy continued to report on and analyze existing legislative approaches and particular policy instruments related to WEEE. TF Policy used the outcomes of these analyses to explore and evaluate recommendations related to applicable solutions to the ewaste problem in both developed and developing countries. In addition TF Policy continued facilitating interregional knowledge transfer of policy development among its members through sharing regional policy updates and activities of developing and existing policy. It has disseminated results and
outputs from previous projects through StEP publications, such as the Green Paper on ewaste indicators and another on scarce metals.
TF Policy has successfully submitted one new seedfunded project to the StEP Steering Committee which will allow a subgroup to revise the 2009 White Paper on ‘Ewaste TakeBack System Design and Policy Approaches’ taking a developing country approach as well as the incorporation of a short policy brief for policymakers. Taking an integrative approach, TF Policy will build off of previous StEP projects and publications such as the White Paper on ‘Ewaste Definitions’ and the Green Paper on ‘Transboundary Shipments of Ewaste’. All three projects have been producing results and will continue to be key areas of focus in the work of TF Policy throughout 2013.
GREENPAPER:TRANSBOUNDARY MOVEMENTSOF DISCARDED ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
TF Policy supported the development of the Green Paper authored by Djahane Salehabadi of Cornell University to describe, quantify and assess global trajectories of discarded electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). It builds on primary archival and transcultural research while incorporating the results from secondary sources such as recent studies and reports on global flows. Furthermore, it reviews key international, regional and national legislative frameworks and their guidelines that regulate the transboundary flows of this material stream. Finally, the paper describes and analyzes the drivers of export, as well as the various loopholes and leakages that
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TASKFORCE1:POLICY
Green Paper on Ewaste in China: Key ewaste legislation in China.
• Bans the import of ewaste
1. Catalogue for Managing the Import of Wastes (Latest edition: MEP, MOC, NDRC, GAC, AQSIQ, 2009, No. 36)
进口废物管理目(环保
部、商务部、发改委、
海关总署、质检总局 公
告 2009年 第36号)
• Set principles of “3R” and “polluter pays principle”
• Stipulates ecodesign
• Makes provisions for environmentallysound collection, reuse, recycling and disposal of WEEE
2. Technical Policy on Pollution Prevention and Control of WEEE(SEPA No. 115)
废弃家用电器与电
子产品污染防治技术政
策(环发[2006]
115号)
• Requirements for product ecodesign
• Restrictions on the use of hazardous substances
• Requirements for producers to provide information about their products
3. Ordinance on Management of Prevention and Control of Pollution from Electronic and Information Products (MIIT No. 39)
电子信息产品污染控制
管理办法
(工信部令第39号)
• Calls for prevention of pollution caused by the disassembly, recycling and disposal of ewaste
• Licensing scheme for managing ewaste recycling companies
4. Administrative Measures on Pollution Prevention of WEEE (SEPA No. 40);
电子废物污染环境防治
管理办法 (环保总局令
第40号)
Technical Specifications of Pollution Control for Processing WEEE
废弃电器电子产品处理
污染控制技术规范
(HJ527-2010)
5. Regulation on Management of the Recycling and Disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (State Council No. 551)
废弃电器电子产品回收
处理管理条例
(国务院令第551号)
• Makes ewaste recycling mandatory
• Implements Extended Producer Responsibility
• Establishes a special fund to subsidize ewaste recycling
2000 FEB.
2006APR.
2007 MAR.
2008 FEB.
2011 JAN.
facilitate the global flow of used and endoflife electronics, better known as ‘ewaste’.
A followup, policyoriented White Paper with scientificsupported recommendations will be developed as a next step. The StEP seedfunded Green Paper was published in Spring 2013 and can be downloaded from the StEP website.
GREENPAPER:E-WASTE IN CHINA: A COUNTRY REPORT
As one of the world’s largest exporters of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and importers of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) worldwide, China plays a key role in the social, economic, environmental and material life cycle of much of the world’s electrical and electronic equipment. As a result of increased Chinese and worldwide consumption and turnover of EEE, China is now facing serious ewaste problems from both growing domestic generation and foreign imports. This report supported by the StEP members and authored by Feng Wang of
UNU, Ruediger Kuehr of UNU, Daniel Ahlquist of UNU and Jinhui Li of Tshinghua University presents a comprehensive review of the extant ewaste problems, ewaste flows, the state of the informal and formal ewaste collection and recycling sectors, legislative progress and relevant stakeholders in China. Information and data sources include published national statistics, reports, research papers, project documents and expert interviews. The Green Paper was published in Spring 2013 and can be downloaded from the StEP website.
WHITEPAPER:E-WASTE DEFINITIONS
Identified as a crucial and fundamental aspect by the StEP General Assembly, TF Policy has continued to further develop a common ‘ewaste’ definition for approval by all StEP members. Building off of the threephase methodology for carrying out this research, TF Policy developed an elaborate inventory of existing ewaste definitions. Second, this was discussed and assessed from academic and practical perspectives in
23
TASKFORCE1:POLICY
order to benefit from existing ewaste definitions, learn from pitfalls and bottlenecks and subsequently avoid duplication of existing definitions. Lastly, using the results of an internal questionnaire, TF Policy further scoped out a working definition, leading to the need for both a definition of ‘ewaste’ and ‘waste’. Based on this accumulated data, a StEP definition of “ewaste” and “waste” along with other required supporting subdefinitions are in the final stages of completion and the results will be disseminated in a White Paper in 2013.
WHITEPAPER:E-WASTE PREVENTION, TAKE-BACK SYSTEM DESIGN AND POLICY APPROACHES
In order to contribute to the ongoing developments in global ewaste policy development, a TF Policy subgroup was established to update the 2009 StEP White Paper on ‘Ewaste TakeBack System Design and Policy Approaches’ with particular focus on developing countries. The aim will be to disseminate a concise, yet comprehensive set of policy design recommendations to be considered at the policymaking level.
Such recommendations will comprise effective policy tools and instruments, collection systems, financing mechanisms and overarching tools that may be used to operate such takeback systems. The completed seedfunded White Paper will be endorsed by all StEP members and is expected to be published in 2014.
TF POLICY PUBLICATIONSGREENPAPERS:• Transboundary Movements of Discarded
Electrical and Electronic Equipment• Ewaste in China: A country report
Cédric Gossart, Telecom Ecole
de Management (until April 2013)
Jonathan Perry, Dell
Duncan McCann, WEEE Help
(since April 2013)
TF POLICY CO-COORDINATORS:
24
REDESIGN
25
TASKFORCE2: REDESIGN
GENERAL TF2 DESCRIPTION AND 2012/2013 UPDATES
Committed to carrying out designoriented research, Task Force ReDesign addresses the complexities associated with product design, especially ecodesign elements and design for recycling and reuse, design for disassembly and design for end of life (EoL). One of the chief priorities of this Task Force is phasing out hazardous materials and identification of substitutions for critical metals. Additionally, Task Force ReDesign looks at design decisions and their energy impacts during the use and reuse phases.
In 2011 and continuing in 2012, conceptual work on obstacles and solutions for postconsumer plastics for new electrical and electronics products was initiated and yielded a sound project proposal, which was submitted to various funding programmes on the European and Member State levels. Moreover, the UPgrade project, an ongoing
project including various StEP members, kicked off in August 2012 and activities and results will be shared with Task Force ReDesign, especially in the work package dedicated to the design for recovery of critical metals expected to be carried out in 2013/2014.
DESIGNFORRECYCLING:FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This TF2 seedfunded project executed by Delft University of Technology aims to demonstrate the feasibility to integrate design for refurbishment, recovery and recycling (DfR) criteria into marketable products, to formulate recommendations about what standards should be considered and to use the knowledge to secure external funding to expand the research. The project will be carried out in three modules detailed below.
REDESIGNPresident of Ireland Michael D. Higgins, launches iameco v3 PC, designed to minimize IT waste (Source: MicroPro).
26
TASKFORCE2:REDESIGN
Case study methodology looking at a various design methodologies for a coffee machine.
NEW EEE CONSUMER PRODUCTS
USE OF THE DEVICE ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL
USED EEE CONSUMER PRODUCT
DISASSEMBLY
VISUAL OVERVIEW OF THE DIFFERENT PARTS
PARTS’ AND COMPONENTS’MATERIAL IDENTIFICATION
REASSEMBLY
REASSEMBLY PRODUCT
TEST
TEST
REVERSE FISHBONE DIAGRAM & SELECTIVE DISASSEMBLY SEQUENCING
MODULE 1
The chief objective of the first step of this seedfunded project is to demonstrate the relevance and most importantly, the potential to integrate DfR strategies into electrical and electrical equipment using the example of a case study – an ecofriendly television. A material analysis will be carried out as a first step followed by the design reconsiderations of flat panel televisions using the EU Ecodesign Directive as a guiding policy framework. Final research report from this module is expected in Autumn 2013.
MODULE 2
Carried out in parallel with the research activities in module 1, this second step of the project will synthesize the above research results into sound, sciencesupported recommendations for product redesign to support reuse of used and electrical and electronic equipment through the incorporation of sound standards. Final presentation of results will be disseminated in a 3rd party workshop.
27
TASKFORCE2: REDESIGN
MODULE 3
Further reaching objective will be to streamline and optimize the resulting recommendations to ultimately secure external funding to expand this innovative research. Funding has already been secured with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and Schmidt Family Foundation with TF2 securing a place in its pilot year. The concrete plan will be the development of a weeklong summer school in London in Summer 2013 with a focus on design for disassembly.
UPGRADE - IMPROVED VALORI-ZATION AND INTEGRATED RECOVERY OF TRACE METALS IN WASTE ELECTRONIC AND ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT (WEEE)
The UPgrade project (20122015), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), aims at enhanced recovery of critical and trace metals from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) along the entire value chain by developing new liberation and separation steps (e.g. mechanical, thermal, che
David Peck, Delft University of Technology
Karsten Schischke, Fraunhofer IZM
mical) sufficiently considering the technological requirements of final recovery processes.
The research approach is based on creating a value substances register for WEEE and experimental studies of technical and organizational processes to dissipate losses of trace metals in the current recycling system. The project is coordinated by the Technical University of Berlin. Project partners and subcontractors include fellow StEP members TU Berlin, Umicore Precious Metals Refining, Fraunhofer IZM, Sims Recycling Solutions and United Nations University.
EXTERNALPROJECTSWITHStEPMEMBERINVOLVEMENT:
28
REUSE
29
TASKFORCE3: REUSE
GENERAL TF3 DESCRIPTION AND 2012/2013 UPDATES
The primary goal of Task Force ReUse is to define globally consistent “reuse” practices, principles and standards for EEE ranging from business to business (B2B) and business to consumer (B2C) users that are economically, socially and environmentally viable. This inventory of effective principles addresses varying consumer behaviour and consumption patterns for harnessing broad reuse and product takeback acceptance, extending the life of a product and/or its components and minimizing the illegal transboundary flow of nonfunctioning goods to developing countries.
Throughout 2012 and 2013 TF ReUse has been active with updates to many existing projects, especially at the dissemination and policy levels while also exploring new reuseoriented activities. Supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), further ewaste activities will be carried out in Ethiopia with the kickoff meeting in Spring 2013. Following up from the successful ‘Best Practices in Reuse’ project, the final report was submitted in two parts and accepted by the scientific journal, Resources, Conservation and Recycling; the publication can be downloaded here and here. The Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funded ReEvaluate project team was involved in fruitful consultative activities with
the Irish government aiming to provide the necessary reuse information required for the national transposition of the newly recasted WEEE Directive. Finally, TF Reuse has developed an indepth report on current transboundary movement legislation and its impacts on flows of used EEE.
SUSTAINABLE E-WASTE MANAGE-MENT SYSTEM IN ETHIOPIA
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) will cofund the further work required to install an ewaste management system in Ethiopia with a contribution of USD 1 million. Further financial support and inkind contributions will come from the Ethiopian Government and StEP Members USEPA, Nokia and Dell, as well as from nonStEP member, Cascade Asset Management. UNIDO will function as the implementing agency with StEP and UNU taking on the international coordination of the project.
30
TASKFORCE3: REUSE
The project started on 1 April 2013 and will run for two years.
The project objectives are:
• Set up a national ewaste strategy for Ethiopia comprising ewasterelated regulation, financing mechanisms, awareness raising, monitoring and control of the established system.
• Upgrade the Akaki Refurbishment and Demanufacturing Facility. This facility was established under an earlier World Bank project, but so far only works on refurbishment and dismantling of computers and is not connected to national or international downstream markets. The scope of activities will be expanded to other categories of electrical and electronic equipment, dismantling activities will be optimized, and a business plan will enable the economic sustainability of the activities.
• Regional approach: Other countries in Eastern Africa shall upgrade their ewasterelated activities as well. It is therefore effective and efficient to establish a regional cooperation and align the various activities.
In order to kick off project activities, UNIDO, StEP and UNU travelled to Addis Ababa on 1820 April 2013 to discuss details of the project with the Ethiopian Government, recruit local staff to assist in carrying out project activities and to prepare the project kickoff meeting. The official project kickoff meeting was held on 17 and 18 April 2013, flanked by an Open National Ewaste Stakeholder Forum to involve the Ethiopian public on 19 April. At the kickoff meeting, the project structure was agreed as well as the work plan for forthcoming results and deliverables.
AN UPDATE:RE-EVALUATE PROJECT
The ReEvaluate Project, funded by the Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is being coordinated by the University of Limerick and supported by the social enterprises Rehab Recycle and Clondalkin Community Recycling Initiative, with UNU participating in the Steering Committee. The main objective of the project is to
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SUSTAINABLE EWASTE MANAGEMENT IN ETHIOPIA
Main Components of the Ewaste Management Project in Ethiopia.
31
TASKFORCE3: REUSE
assess the reuse potential of used EEE with particular attention to broader application of reuse at the national level. Achievements thus far have been the development of the first Irish reuse centre in Tallaght thanks to the generous contribution from Rehab Recycle. Additionally, to further support ubiquitous reuse in Ireland, Rehab Recycle has been in discussions and consultations with the Irish WEEE compliance schemes in order to establish mechanisms for separating functioning used EEE from the WEEE waste streams. On a more technical level, there have been large modeling strides in the spatial assessment of environmental and economic benefits of reusing appliances compared to buying new EEE.
In late 2012, as a result of the ReEvaluate project, Rehab Recycle and the University of Limerick were asked to chair a stakeholder consultation group on how reuse would be addressed in the Irish government transposition of the Recast of the WEEE Directive. This group has now reported and currently awaits to see if its finding are taken up in the legislation.
ANUPDATE:RE-USE POTENTIAL PROJECT
In order to assess where reuse activities have been generally successful or become part of the larger societal context, this project uses a variety of indicators to examine if certain countries or states have a considerable supply of goods available for refurbishment and if there is a high demand for refurbished goods. It does not imply that reuse is taking place in a complete optimal manner but juxtaposed against countries or regions where reuse of EEE is negligible.
Some of the countries and states being considered for the study include the UK, Belgium and the US state of Illinois. The project sought and will continue to elicit opinions towards reuse from a broad range of stakeholders, including reuse organizations, compliance schemes, regulators and producers. The study promises to uncover interesting contrasts and comparisons in both reuse approaches and attitudes between the EU and the US and within the two EU countries. Initial
Repair of mobilephones in Accra (Ghana).
(Source: Nokia)
32
the establishment of greater reseller confidence, increased consumer confidence and greater confidence to design for reuse.
This project sought to examine if the data available from the SelfMonitoring and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) installed on the hard disk drives (HDDs) of endoflife (EoL) computers can provide reliable data for betterinformed reuse decisions. Using data acquired from the hard drives of 519 computers from Rehab Recycle, the project analyzed the Power On Hours, Power Cycle Count and Start/Stop count to discern critical attributes of a computers use phase.
During this project it has been demonstrated that it is possible to extract use phase information from a HDD that can be used to accurately communicate the manner in which a PC has been used during its first life cycle. A system whereby SMART attributes could be recorded during preparation for reuse and made readily available would support reuse markets through providing clear and reliable information about the PCs first use phase. This could be readily incorporated in commercial software products employed for HDD erasure.
This project ended in Summer 2012 with results synthesized in a final report. More information can be requested from the StEP Secretariat.
observations denote the emphasis on reuse may be due to the strong role of the regulator in Belgium while the UK relied purely on a market driven system. Producers and retailers also expressed very little concern for the competition it offered to new products and observed that reuse had the effect of forging new markets. On the whole the Belgian system appeared to provide greater satisfaction at large as the policy and regulationbased approach permitted investment and long term planning by reuse stakeholders.
This project ended in Summer 2012 with results synthesized in a final report. More information can be requested from the StEP Secretariat.
RE-USE DATASET PROJECT
Lifetime extension through reuse is frequently advocated as a viable area in which PCs can reduce their overall environmental impact in the immediate future. However, in spite of the emergence of a number of reuse operating models, there are still many barriers to the greater adoption of widespread or formal reuse infrastructures. Better availability of data on the life cycle and current health of PCs could lead to greater levels of reuse. More data would lead to greater signalling to secondary markets, which could lead to
TASKFORCE3: REUSE
Second hand auction of TVs in Bangkok (Thailand).
(Source: EEI)
33
WHITEPAPER:THE EFFECT OF WASTE LEGISLATION ON TRANSBOUNDARY MOVEMENTS OF EEE DESTINED FOR RE-USE.
This report evaluates the current transfrontier shipment legislation and its influence on the movement of used electrical and electronic equipment (UEEE) destined for reuse and refurbishment, especially addressing the electronic refurbishment industries’ point of view. It does so by examining (i) current international transfrontier shipment and ewaste legislation, (ii) case study experiences from electronic industry stakeholders based on survey and interviews and (iii) various models and practices adopted by reuse organizations to handle the proliferation of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). The report identifies three priority areas obstructing reuse organizations‘ movement of used EEE across the globe: (i) discrepancies in legislation and enforcement between developed and developing countries, (ii) legislative limitations and (iii) the valuation of used EEE. Based on these evaluations the report authors proposes five key recommendations to resolve such issues:
1. Identification of specific policy amendments for the current transfrontier shipment legislation.
2. The establishment of national ewaste and reuse policies within developed and developing countries.
3. The development of a comprehensive database to harmonize legislation liaisons between developed and developing countries.
4. The expansion of recycling and dismantling facilities in developed and developing countries, using the informal recycling sector as a valuable element.
5. The introduction of a regulated green ewaste transboundary channel.
TF Reuse will further discuss the results from this project in order to identify thematic areas on which further work can be carried out in 2013/2014.
John Dickenson,
Reverse Logistics Group Americas (RLGA)
Colin Fitzpatrick, University of Limerick
TASKFORCE3: REUSE
34
TASK FORCE 4: RECYCLE
RECYCLE
35
GENERAL TF4 DESCRIPTION AND 2012/2013 UPDATES
Concerned with electronics once they reach their end of life (EoL), Task Force ReCycle aims to enhance both pre and endprocessing infrastructures, systems and technologies that facilitate sustainable recycling practices within a level playing field. Task Force ReCycle takes into account the disparities in the developed and developing world in order to extrapolate effective solutions depending on various boundary conditions and capacities. From a sciencebased perspective, Task Force ReCycle initiates international, interstakeholder cooperative activities and dialogues in order to generate economically, environmentally and socially sound solutions.
Throughout 2012 TF ReCycle was involved in various outreach activities in addition to more technical work. Under a fiveyear grant agreement with the United States Environmental
Protection Agency (USEPA), the Massachusetts Institute for Technology (MIT) and the National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER) continued its research on a methodology for quantifying flows of ewaste leaving the US. At the same time, the 2011 seedfunded project began synthesizing its results from the previous year in the development of a business model tool for preprocessors and recyclers and the 2012 seedfunded project on CRT recycling in developing countries kicked off its activities.
MIT/NCER E-WASTE MONITORING METHODOLOGY
With this project Task Force ReCycle has also contributed to a better quantitative understanding of the transboundary movement of used equipment and ewaste from Europe to West Africa. Export flows from North America are addressed in an ongoing project financially supported by the
TASKFORCE4:RECYCLE
RECYCLE
36
United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) under a fiveyear grant agreement with United Nations University. The chief activities carried out under this project are coordinated by the North American StEP Focal Point, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER). This project characterizes the nature of the flows of used electrical and electronic equipment from the United States, including a qualitative characterization of the routes by which used equipment is leaving the country and an assessment of methodologies that may be used to quantify the volume of this equipment, with a particular emphasis on data collection. An interim report authored by T. Reed Miller, Jeremy Gregory and Randy Kirchain from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology and Jason Linnell from the National Center for Electronics Recycling was published in early 2012 and can be downloaded from the StEP Website.
WHITEPAPER:STANDARDS FOR THE COLLECTION, STORAGE, TRANSPORT AND TREATMENT OF E-WASTE
Ewaste contains numerous materials, toxic metals and organic materials as well as valuable and scarce resources. In order to prevent pollution and to save valuable resources, ewaste
TASKFORCE4: RECYCLE
Scheme of dismantling processes/depth.
TIME
DIFFICULTY
ELECTRONICSREMOVE
HAZARDOUS PARTS
MIXED FRACTIONS
DISMANTLING
CASING
REMOVE HAZARDOUS
PARTSDISMANTLING
MATERIAL SEPARATION
MECHANICSSEPARATION OF
MATERIALS & MIXED FRACTIONS
DISMANTLING
Calculation tool for ewaste dismantling facilities
37
Example architecture of EoL standards covering the entire EoL chain of EEE.
TASKFORCE4: RECYCLE
GENERALREQUIREMENTSFORALLEOLOPERATORS
STANDARD FOR COLLECTION
STANDARD FOR STORAGE AND TRANSPORT
GENERAL STANDARD FOR TREATMENT
SPECIFIC TREATMENT STANDARDS
TVS/MONITORS
COOLING AND FREEZING
requires specific treatment. As compared to other waste streams, ewaste is highly complex as it must be collected separately and treated carefully to enable environmentfriendly and safe treatment. This Green Paper will be a comprehensive guide for the setup of countryor regionspecific endoflife (EoL) standards taking into account best practices. It is crucial to keep in mind that this study is not an EoL standard, rather, it gives an overview of the principle criteria of EoL standards, suggests standards requirements for EoL WEEE and proposes approaches for translating the requirements into EoL standards. The Green Paper was published in Spring 2013 and can be downloaded from the StEP website. At the 2012 General Assembly, TF Recycle agreed
to convert the datarich Green Paper into a more concise White Paper which will reflect a common StEP philosophy on EoL management. The final version of this White Paper is expected in Autumn 2013.
CALCULATIONTOOLFORE-WASTEDISMANTLINGFACILITIES: AN UPDATE
This 2011 seedfunded project aimed to develop an integrative business model supporting sustainable ewaste preprocessing and recycling in developing countries. The model incorporated
38
the results generated from the StEPestablished Best of 2 Worlds (Bo2W) philosophy by emphasizing the environmental and economic relevance of proper manual dismantling. Additionally, the business model tool contains a userfriendly calculation methodology tool which uses core data required for a relevant and selfsustaining ewaste business model. In 2012 the draft calculation tool and user manual were finalized and further work continues to incorporate the results of dismantling trials.
CRT RECYCLING IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
A new project on CRT recycling in developing countries was discussed at the 2012 General Assembly and is of interest for many Task Force ReCycle members. The project involves performing a literature review on volumes, treatment/disposal options, and analysis of the results with recommendations for CRT management and treatment in developing countries. The Task Force is currently finalizing a proposal and may propose this project for seed funding in 2013.
PHD THESIS ON MATERIAL FLOWS
The PhD thesis from Esther Müller, Empa and ETH Zürich, “A methodology to dynamically model the spatial distribution of anthropogenic critical metals stocks and flows” was adopted as a new TF4 project in 2012. The thesis will contribute to the objectives of the StEP Task Force ReCycle and contribute to sustainable solutions through the provision of knowledge on the quantity and location of relevant products in use as well as the quantity, location and pathways of input and output flows. This knowledge provides a basis to develop appropriate reverse supply chains and recycling systems. Findings from this research will be regularly reported back to TF4 supporting various StEPrelated activities on WEEE material flows.
TASKFORCE4:RECYCLE
39
Mathias Schluep, Swiss Federal Laboratories for
Materials Testing and Research (EMPA)
Jason Linnell,
National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER)
Recyling practices in Africa and Asia (Sources: EMPA and FHGIZM).
EXTERNAL PROJECTS WITH StEP MEMBER INVOLVEMENT:
SUSTAINABLE RECYCLING INDUSTRIES (SRI) PROJECT
Following up and even interlinking to the Green Paper on EoL standards, the realm of global recycling standards will be a key priority in this new project. Sustainable Recycling Industries (SRI), the followup to the SECO Swiss eWaste Programme, will incorporate the knowledge and expertise of StEP members in order to support the harmonization of international standards and the introduction of processes to distinguish “fair” secondary resources from materials recovered under substandard conditions. Currently, SRI has committed financial resources to support the 2nd edition of the Ewaste Academy – Managers Edition (EWAM). The SRI project was officially launched in Zurich in 2013.
TASKFORCE4: RECYCLE
40
TASK FORCE 4: RCYCLE
CAPACITY BUILDING
41
TASKFORCE4: CAPACITY BUILDING
GENERAL TF5 DESCRIPTION AND 2012/2013 UPDATES
Another crosscutting Task Force, Task Force Capacity Building strives to disseminate the knowledge and data generated tailored to specific target groups, including the scientific and academic communities but also on the political and practical levels. Additionally, Task Force Capacity Building undertakes coordination activities on the awareness raising and training of various stakeholders through its Ewaste Academy editions for researchers and policymakers and study tours and trainings on demand.
The 2012 TF5 highlights include further support and results from StEP member activities to the StEP ADDRESS strategy for quantifying ewaste volumes worldwide. For example, following up to the successful quantification activities in the Netherlands, UNU completed a national quantification study in Italy and will finalize similar
(Source: Umicore)
ewaste quantification activities in Belgium and France. The first EWaste Academy – Managers edition (EWAM) for policymakers, government officials and small and medium sized enterprises (collectors, refurbishers, recyclers) took place in June 2012 in Accra, Ghana due to the increasing demand for training of ewaste practitioners. Building off of the success of the first EWAM, a second edition is being planned in El Salvador in Spring 2014. Finally, the StEP Summer School for PhD and postdoctoral researchers, now rebranded as the Ewaste Academy – Scientists Edition (EWAS) has secured funding for a fourth edition taking place in December 2013.
StEPADDRESS:QUANTIFICATION ACTIVITIES
The Annual Digital Dynamic Reporting of the Ewaste StatuS (ADDRESS), an overarching methodology facilitating the quantification of the
42
TASKFORCE4:CAPACITY BUILDING
size of the ewaste problem, falls into the domains of both TF ReCycle and Capacity Building. Throughout the years since its inception, this project was converted into an ADDRESS strategy focusing on facilitating the generation of data for the quantification of the StEP vision. The practical translation lead to various individual, externally funded projects supporting this mission.
Ongoing StEP member activities have substantially contributed and provided the necessary ewaste data to the ADDRESS strategy from quantification projects and activities described below. It was agreed at the StEP 2012 General Assembly that current and future ADDRESS results on ewaste amounts will be detailed further and soon published online in the StEP World Map.
StEP E-WASTE ACADEMY (EWA)
The StEP EWaste Academy (EWA) is a pioneering concept in the development of capacity on
ewaste research and management to foster multistakeholder partnerships and establish opportunities for continued collaboration on ewaste research, policy and management. It looks at the ewaste issue in its entirety, rather than through the lens of a specific discipline. Because ewaste poses diverse challenges, including environmental, economic and social aspects, where all stakeholders need to participate in the development and the implementation of solutions, the StEP Ewaste Academy addresses this issue through providing tailormade and targeted training and capacity building for different stakeholder groups.
The Ewaste Academy (EWA) will serve as the overarching capacity building umbrella with two specific modules positioned underneath to contribute to holistic, integrated solutions through scientific research and sound policy development and system design. The EWA – Scientists edition (EWAS) and the EWA – Managers edition (EWAM) represent both a valuable global network of future ewaste researchers and practitioners as well as access to new and upcoming ewaste policy
2012 Ewaste Academy – Managers Edition (EWAM) participants and experts during a site visit at the Port of Tema in Ghana
(Source: UNU).
43
development and design processes. The vision of the EWA transcends the academies as such by promoting and fostering continued collaboration and interaction among EWA alumni beyond the academies as such. Additionally, this alumni network will be in a privileged position to apply the knowledge and experiences gained at the EWA to their local conditions and will be a future valuable source for both StEP and sponsors alike.
E-WASTEACADEMY–SCIENTISTSEDITION(EWAS)
The former StEP Ewaste Summer School, now renamed the Ewaste Academy – Scientists edition (EWAS) brings together young ewaste researchers from around the world, looking at solving the ewaste problem from different disciplinary perspectives. It aims to be the foremost forum available with the following concrete objectives:
• Develop a multidisciplinary network of young scholars who will function as multipliers in their
respective academic and geographic areas• Link young researchers to experts from industry,
academia and policy makers which leads to concrete research collaboration and projects on the ground
• Enable young scholars to develop key skills for high quality research and teaching and also provide an opportunity to get their research reviewed by renowned experts in a neutral environment
• Promote innovative and rigorous scientific research, to identify research gaps in order to establish an international research agenda and develop a holistic view on ewaste research
Based on the success of the three editions of the Ewaste Summer School in 20092011, TF5 worked hard to secure the funding for a fourth EWAS to take place in 2013. With the kind support of SWICO Recycling, EMPA, Dell, Philips, Umicore and the Secretariat of the Basel Convention, the fourth edition will take place in December 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland. As in previous years, a call for applications will be disseminated where each interested applicant
TASKFORCE4: CAPACITY BUILDING
EWAM participants dismanteling ewaste (Source: UNU).
44
TASKFORCE4:CAPACITY BUILDING
Ab Stevels discussing with EWAS participants.
WEEE generated 2012
(J. Huisman, 2012, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Handbook, Page 93119, Woodhead Publishing Limited)
4.820
7.253
9.918
10.221
657 1.240 2.072
2.742
2.752
4.226
2.994
2012 TOTAL: 48,9 MILLION TONNES
657 Australia / Pacific
1.240 SubSaharan Africa
2.072 Eastern Europe + non EU 27+2
2.742 Japan
2.752 India
2.994 Middle East and North Africa
4.226 Latin America + Caribbean
4.820 Asia, ex China, India & Japan
7.253 China
9.918 EU 27+2
10.221 US + Canada
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TASKFORCE4: CAPACITY BUILDING
will submit an application form and their research abstract which will be evaluated by an independent panel of reviewers with ultimate selection of 1620 participants. The EWAS Organizing Team will design an innovative, integrated programme incorporating expert lectures, student presentations, group work activities, study tours and site visits.
During the EWAS participants will be sensitized to the diverse aspects of ewaste management, with the aim to:
• Share existing knowledge and research• Exploit synergies of multidisciplinary research• Develop capacity for high quality scientific
research.
For more information, please contact [email protected]
E-WASTEACADEMY–MANAGERSEDITION(EWAM)
The EWaste Academy – Managers edition (EWAM) focuses on the practical implementation of sciencebased solutions, in particular in policy
development and ewaste system design. Targeted at policymakers and government officials as well as small and mediumsized enterprises (collectors, refurbishers, recyclers), the EWAM aims to address the following core objectives:
• Establish a neutral platform for exchange of best practices and existing challenges among practitioners of ewaste legislation, including both policymakers and small and medium size enterprises (collectors/refurbishers/recyclers)
• Generate a snapshot into the current status of ewaste policy in the respective countries and regions
• Foster an interactive atmosphere of knowledge sharing and practical firsthand experiences, supporting betterinformed decisionmaking
• Obtain constructive feedback and advice from ewaste experts and fellow policymakers
• Establish a sustaining network for continued interaction after the EWAM
• Integrate the EWA – Scientists edition (EWAS) in order to provide sciencebased data and perspectives to the decision making process
With the kind support from the Global eSustainability Initiative (GeSI), the Dutch NVMP Foundation, UNIDO and UNEP, the first GeSI & StEP EWaste
EWAS participants opening a flatscreen.
46
TASKFORCE4:CAPACITY BUILDING
Academy – Managers edition (EWAM) took place in June 2012 in Accra, Ghana. The first EWAM took a regional focus with particular emphasis on ewaste issues in the African region, receiving enormous positive feedback from all participants.
The open Call for Applications for the first EWAM garnered a staggering 87 unique applications from all six continents. A multidisciplinary pool of expert faculty were invited to present their ewaste activities at the EWAM, ensuring a contentrich, diverse programme containing interactive elements such as group work and sitevisits.
Building on the success of the first EWAM, the funding has been secured for a second edition. The second EWAM will be hosted by the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Central America and Mexico (BCRCCAM), taking place April 2014 in El Salvador.
Key findings from UNU‘s ewaste quantification activities carried out in Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy.
DATA BEL NLD ITA NOTE
EEE PoM 26,2 26,2 21,6 (B2C)
Stock EEE 260 285 220 (B2C)
WG 22,4 24,2 16,3 (B2C) ITA excel Lamps
Reported Formal System 10,5 7,5 4,3
Complementary 2,7 6,6 > 6,9
Export EEE > 0,6 2,7 > 0,7
Export WEEE > 0,3 < 0,8 > 0,7
MSW 1,5 2,3 1,6 – 2,3
Unidentified +/ 6,8 3,9 – 5,1 +/ 6,0 ITA no downstream investigation in the study
•
•
•
• Formal(s) alone currently does not suffice
• Complementary streams play a crucial role
• Joint efforts (stakeholders) are needed to: Investigate and track downstream
Identify missing flows
47
Jaco Huisman, UNU (until April 2013)
WAITPROJECT:WEEE ARISING IN ITALY
This study commissioned by Ecodom and carried out by UNU and Politecno University Milano and Ipsos, provides evidence that will support the development of more accurate future collection targets, quantifying household WEEE generated and highlighting consumers’ WEEE disposal habits and attitudes, as well as shedding light on complementary/alternative waste streams, which, to date, account for a substantial share of WEEE arising in Italy.A combination of detailed reconstruction of the historical put on market data for different types of EEE, the quantification of the accumulated EEE stocks in households, and the creation of lifetime profiles for various EEE, has enabled the formulation of reliable estimates of WEEE generated annually in Italy. These WEEE streams have been categorized into different disposal channels in order to highlight key aspects of WEEE collection and management to which legislators must pay particular attention in the definition of future strategies for achieving WEEE collection targets. Full version of the final report can be requested from the StEP Secretariat: info@stepintiative.org
RECUPEL:WEEE ARISING IN BELGIUM
In addition to the Italian quantification activities, WEEE arising, EEE put on market and consumer behaviour data was collected and synthesized in Belgium as commissioned by Recupel, the Belgian ewaste takeback and recycling organization. The aim of the research was to gain a better understanding of the amount of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) put on the Belgian market, the amount of WEEE generated in the country and the various pathways in recycling, export and disposal in anticipation of the EU’s ambitious new ewaste collection targets. The research was carried out by nonStEP member FFact with scientific coordination from United Nations University (UNU). A final report detailing the key findings of the study will be published in 2013.
EXTERNAL PROJECTS WITH STEP MEMBER INVOLVEMENT:
Claudia Luepschen, UNU
Mireille Heijnen, HewlettPackard (HP)
TASKFORCE4: CAPACITY BUILDING
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EVENTS ANDOUTREACH
StEP ORGANIZED EVENTS
2012 StEP GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 23 – 25 MAY 2012
The 2012 StEP General Assembly, was hosted by Philips at their headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. There were more StEP members present at this year’s General Assembly than all previous ones, with 55+ members arriving in Amsterdam contributing yet again to fruitful discussions and roadmaps for planned activities throughout the remainder of 2012.
The main agreements and decision proposals approved were on the updated StEP Memorandum of Understanding, increased and streamlined visibility through StEP media activities and a way forward on integration of StEP EWaste Academy alumni into the StEP network.
Additionally, in order to discuss interim results and provide midterm updates to all StEP members, a virtual General Assembly took place 23 – 25 April 2013.
2012 GESI & StEP E-WASTE ACADEMY, 25 – 29 JUNE 2012
The 2012 GeSI & StEP Ewaste Academy targeted ewaste practitioners – policymakers, government officials and SMEs (collectors/refurbishers/recyclers) on the African continent due to the increasingly dire ewaste situation on the continent and the swift strides being made regarding ewaste policy development in African countries. The EWA was hosted by the United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNUINRA) and took place at their premises in Accra, Ghana.
StEP EVENTS AND OUTREACH 2012/2013
During the 5day programme, participants gathered further holistic insights into the complexities of ewaste management and system design through a life cycleoriented programme addressing opportunities and challenges along the WEEE value chain. The expert lectures were combined with handson group work activities based on the lecture content of that day, a halfday dismantling session of various products, a preprocessor panel discussion, exercises on shipment notification and waste classification as well as a site visit to the Port of Tema. Final group work presentations were held on the last day where participant groups synthesized the key criteria into a ‘compendium of smart ideas’ to take back to their host countries. Additionally, an interactive 2012 EWAM ToolKit containing all expert lectures, programme material, scientific publications and daily proceedings is being finalized and will be published in Summer 2013. For more information, see www.ewasteacademy.org.
STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOP & StEP OPEN MEETING IN CHINA, 16 AND 17 JULY 2012
The first “Stakeholder Workshop & StEP Open Meeting in China” was successfully held in Beijing, coorganized as an event of the Solving the Ewaste Problem (StEP) Initiative by United Nations University (UNU) and Basel Convention Regional Center for Asia and the Pacific (BCRC Beijing). The workshop was supported by China Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It provided an interactive platform to understand ongoing and upcoming stakeholder activities on ewaste management in China, identify the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders, and facilitate cooperation amongst them based on shared priorities and goals.
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EVENTS AND OUTREACH
The workshop was attended by more than 50 participants, with a variety of Chinese, international and multinational representatives from UN organizations, governmental agencies, research institutes, electronic producers, collection and recycling companies.
The first day of the workshop consisted of presentations about ongoing activities related to used electronics and ewaste management in China, including the progress made by recent policies and the latest developments in electronics recycling technologies in China.
The second day focused on indepth group discussions in which participants identified and compared key priorities and challenges for the different organizational sectors represented at the meeting. During these discussions, participants identified several shared priorities for future work. These included (i) strengthening regulations in order to promote formal ewaste collection channels, (ii) increase the environmental standards for electronics recyclers in China, (iii) the development of thirdparty certification and licensing systems for recyclers, (iv) coordinate research and development across academic and industrial sectors, (v) build technical and institutional capacity for the informal recycling sector and (vi) establish a communication platform for knowledge sharing among both domestic and international stakeholders. The second day concluded with a site visit to a local ewaste recycling facility in Beijing.
EGG 2012+ TUTORIAL ON STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES:
The 2012 Electronics Goes Green conference took place from 912 September 2012 in Berlin, Ger many. The conference was organized by Fraunhofer IZM and attended by over 450 delegates with
parallel sessions, poster sessions, workshops and interactive ewaste tutorials. Of particular interest to the delegates and plenum was the issue of resource management and resource efficiency and the required life cycle approach that must be taken along all stages of the supply chain.
StEP organized a tutorial along with StEP members EMPA and GIZ addressing the ewaste situation and potential strategies and solutions in developing countries. The concept was to let representatives from developing countries and countries with market economies in transition report about ewaste related problems and solutions from their specific, national point of view. Government representatives from Colombia, Egypt, Mexico, India and Thailand gave short presentations about the situation and the approaches their countries take to overcome roadblocks towards sustainable ewaste management. Two moderated panel discussions followed with these country representatives and members of industry on the panel about the legal framework and best practices, technologies and ewaste management systems. The more than 50 participants in the audience learned about the perspectives developing countries and countries with market economies in transition have on the ewaste problem, how they think about core elements of ewaste management like extended producer responsibility, best practices, technology and which support they hope to receive from outside their countries. The presentations and discussion were highly differentiated and provided valuable insights for the audience as well as the speakers and panelists on the current status, expectations and future possibilities and needs of cooperation to achieve the sustainable management of ewaste.
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PAN-AFRICAN E-WASTE FORUMIN KENYA, 14 – 16 MARCH 2012
Organized by the Secretariat of the Basel Convention and UNEP, with support from the StEP Initiative, the Government of Kenya and private sector companies including StEP members Dell, HP, Nokia and Philips, the forum was the first event of its kind on the continent. It focused on longterm solutions to the rising levels of obsolete mobile phones, refrigerators, televisions and other electrical and electronic products in Africa.
Representatives from 18 African states, the United Nations, nongovernmental organizations, academia and the private sector agreed on priority actions for reducing the environmental and health impacts of growing levels of electrical and electronic waste (ewaste) in Africa, as well as for promoting proper ewaste management as a source of green jobs and economic development.
The actions were agreed on the final day of the PanAfrican Forum on EWaste, which was held at the Nairobi headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a StEP member.
Delegates at the PanAfrican Forum on EWaste underlined the importance of improved access to information and communication technologies (ICT) in Africa as a step towards achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. As part of the 'Call to Action', manufacturers,
importers, resellers and other handlers of electrical and electronic products should be required to organize the collection, recycling and recovery of ewaste. The forum agreed that Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) should be a key com po nent of the environmentallysound management of ewaste.
INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNI-CATIONS UNION (ITU) GREEN STANDARDS WEEK IN PARIS, 17 – 21 SEPTEMBER 2012
Industry leaders outlined their commitment to a green agenda with a Declaration issued at the end of ITU’s Green Standards Week which was organized together with ITU and TechAmerica Europe and hosted by Microsoft in Paris. Agreed by over 150 participants from the private and public sectors, the green agenda includes carbon commitments from the leading ICT companies worldwide.
StEP and UNU were organizing partners and coorganized two sessions. One session addressed ‘Mapping Ewaste to address future challenges’ where a panel discussed the complexity of the ewaste problem and a follow up on the next impacts of ewaste on resources. The second coorganized session looked at ‘Strategies for greening the ICT supply chain’ which addressed the businessrelated challenges of a more sustainable supply chain as well as interactive discussions on potential solutions.
EVENTS ANDOUTREACH
StEP-SUPPORTED EVENTS
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EVENTS AND OUTREACH
1ST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WASTE MANAGEMENT IN SAUDI ARABIA, 20 – 21 NOVEMBER 2012
Due to the increasing waste streams in the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia and across the Middle East as such, this 1st International Conference on Waste Management in Saudia Arabia offered the unique opportunity for participants to collaborate, share experiences and ultimately learn how to best manage industrial waste. StEPsupported the development and promotion of this conference taking place at the King Fahd Civic Center, Yanbu Al Sinaiyah with special sessions on industrial ewaste management.
BCRCCaribbean PACE Workshop on the ESM and WEEE in the
Caribbean (Source: Kevoy Community Development Institute).
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ANNUALREPORT
CONTACTStEP Secretariat c/o United Nations UniversityInstitute for Sustainability and Peace (UNUISP)Operating Unit SCYCLEUN CampusPlatz der Vereinten Nationen 153113 Bonn, Germany
Phone: +492288150213/0214Fax: +492288150299email: info@stepinitiative.orgwww.stepinitiative.org
THEStEPINITIATIVE:
Initiated by various UN organizations, the “Solving the Ewaste Problem (StEP) Initiative“ works with representatives from industry, governments, international organizations, NGOs and academia to initiate and facilitate approaches that promote the sustainable handling and management of ewaste. Organized into five Task Forces, StEP seeks to develop feasible, just and environmentallysafe solutions to the ewaste problem through scientific analysis, planning and pilot projects.
For more information, please visit: www.stepinitiative.org
THE UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITYThe United Nations University (UNU) is the academic arm of the United Nations system. Its mission is to contribute, through collaborative research and postgraduate education, dissemination of knowledge and advisory services, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare that are the concern of the United Nations, its Peoples and Member States. The University functions as a think tank for the United Nations system and for UN Member States providing knowledgebased policy advice.
Website: www.unu.eduPhotos: © by EEI, EMPA, FHGIZM, Kevoy Community Development Institute, MicroPro, Nokia, Umicore, UNU
DISCLAIMERUnited Nations University / StEP Initiative 2013This work is licensed under the Creative Commons byncnd license. To view a copy of this license, please visit http://creativecommons.org. This publication may thus be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or nonprofit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. No use of this publication may be made for resale or for any other commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from the StEP Initiative/ United Nations University.The StEP Initiative/United Nations University would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source.